Five potential candidates appeared Thursday at the conference at Maryland's National Harbor, a Washington, D.C. suburb.

Perry, who unsuccessful sought the Republican nomination in 2012, Friday touted the virtues of having a governor running the country, especially one from a conservative state.

"We must elect the right kind of leaders to represent us in Washington," he said. "Leaders who devolve power to the states and not rob them of it. Leaders who believe in free markets and not a bigger federal government. Leaders who respect the freedom of the individual instead of depriving them of the power to realize their dream.

"It is time for Washington to focus on the few things the constitution establishes as the federal government's role, defend our country, provide a cogent foreign policy, and what the heck, deliver the mail, preferably on time and on Saturdays."

Perry got appreciative applause when he recited his accomplishments in Texas.

"We cut taxes, we didn't spend all the money, we created fair and predictable regulations and we stopped personal injury trial lawyers from filing frivolous lawsuits," he said.

The crowd cheered.

"We have created almost 30 percent of the nation's jobs while keeping taxes among the nation's lowest" Perry continued. "We have presided over not only an energy boom, but the nation's largest population boom and an economic boom of monumental proportion."